A compilation of optical starlight polarization catalogs

Understand

Polarimetry of stars at optical and near-infrared wavelengths is an invaluable tool for tracing interstellar dust and magnetic fields.

• Recent studies have demonstrated the power of combining stellar polarimetry with distances from the Gaia mission, in order to gain accurate, three-dimensional information on the properties of the interstellar magnetic field and the dust distribution.
• However, access to optical polarization data is limited, as observations are conducted by different investigators, with different instruments and are made available in many separate publications.
• To enable a more widespread accessibility of optical polarimetry for studies of the interstellar medium, we compile a new catalog of stellar polarization measurements.